Joe Schmidt is confident Jonny Sexton will give up Parisien walkways for the streets of Dublin in two years’ time.

Racing Metro-bound Sexton told MirrorSport last week he would not be leaving Leinster had he been negotiating a contract with the province rather than the IRFU.

Sexton expanded on his disappointment yesterday, insisting his preference had been to remain with the Blues for the rest of his career.

Formerly with Clermont, Sexton’s current head coach Schmidt (right) is nicely placed to judge how the Ireland out-half will fare as the Top 14’s best earner. But he believes Sexton will not take up the option of another year at Racing when the time comes.

“I know that Jonny’s got reservations about the decision he made, I haven’t seen the article but he’s probably been pretty up front about that,” said the incoming Ireland coach.

“It’s fantastic to go when you’re young, to learn a new language and immerse yourself in a different culture. But the Irish players are best placed in the Irish system. That’s been of benefit to Jonny Sexton. But he’s an intelligent young man. It’s a vibrant city, Paris, and that will have some allure for two years – and two years only.

“He’ll miss Dublin, he’ll miss family and friends. These are guys he grew up with and plays with.

“That’s a hard separation to make. Also, the Irish people are very open sort of people.

“Paris is such a big city and without any disrespect intended, I’d call Dublin a big city, small town.

“People know each other, it’s a really nice environment to live in.

“It’s one of the reasons why my family are so settled here. He’ll miss that comfort, as opposed to Paris – a big metropolitan area with 10 million people.

“In retrospect there could have been a settlement, he could have stayed.

“For Leinster and Ireland, that would have been the best result. Jonny would have felt that would’ve been a good result.